Chemical Composition and Some Biological Activities of Artemisia marschalliana Essential Oil

Background and objectives: the aerial parts of artemisia marschalliana sprengel as an indigenous species of genus artemisia in the east azerbaijan province of iran, was subjected to phytochemical analysis, as well as anti-proliferative, free-radical-scavenging and anti-malarial activities. methods: the chemical composition of the essential oil obtained from the aerial parts of a. marschalliana was analyzed by gc/ms (gas chromatography/mass spectrometry) and gc/fid (gas chromatography/ flame ionization detector). the anti-proliferative, anti-oxidant, and anti-malarial activities of the essential oil were assessed by mtt, 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (dpph), and cell-free β-hematin formation assays, respectively. results: a total of 38 constituents were identified, which represented 95.55% of the oil. the essential oil was characterized by a high content of oxygenated sesquiterpenes. the major components of the oil were spathulenol (38.25%), isoaromadendrene epoxide (8.5%), and caryophyllene oxide (7.31%). the oil exhibited cytotoxic activity against the human breast adenocarcinoma (mcf-7) cell line. the half maximal inhibitory concentration (ic50) of anti-malarial assay was 0.38±0.04 mg/ml; the oil, however, displayed low anti-oxidant activity. conclusion: these findings will be beneficial for the further development of new chemotherapeutic or anti-malarial agents.